W. WATSON & SONS, LTD. ANTIQUE BRASS SIMPLEX DISSECTING MICROSCOPE  CIRCA 1910
You are invited to submit offers for a W. Watson & Sons, Ltd. antique brass Simplex Dissecting Microscope. It is designed mainly for botanical and entomological work.
This particular instrument is unsigned and does not bear a typical serial number. However, it very closely matches the specifications, description and illustration of the No. M416 W. Watson & Sons Simplex Dissecting Microscope as found in the 1910/11 21st Edition of W. Watson & Sons, Ltd. Catalogue of Microscopes and Accessories manufactured and Supplied By W. Watson & Sons, Ltd. Opticians. Accompanying this listing from my personal collection copy of the 1910/11 Watson Catalogue is a facsimile copy of page 66 of that publication that has an illustration and brief description of this model dissecting microscope. The similarities to the listed instrument are clearly apparent. However, the featured instrument has a slightly more complex articulating lens holder and a glass stage plate, which the microscope in the catalogue cut does not have. Based on the overall design we can date this dissecting microscope to circa 1910.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
This microscope is built on a heavy black lacquered U-shaped base. Rising from the base is a brass pillar, which rises to capture a rectangular 62mm x 85mm brass stage with a glass top. The brass stage has some very fancy scrollwork on the top  very typical of the microscopes produced by Watson. Inside the brass pillar is a moveable limb with angled rackwork that is focused by a pinion system attached to the rear of the brass pillar. A pair of brass hand knobs is used to control the focus. Attached to the top of the pillar is an articulating limb with a magnifier lens. The magnifier lens is a B&L 25mm lens in cell. Attached to the side of the stage is a pair of hand rests. Under the stage is a 50mm diameter removable plano-concave mirror.
This microscope stands about 6-inches tall and is 9 inches wide with the hand rests attached. It weighs 3 pounds.
STATEMENT OF CONDITION:
NOTE: The accompanying images are a part of this statement of condition. Please take the time to view all of the accompanying images. They are designed to show the instrument at various angles and in various positions. The instrument was photographed under natural light conditions. The images illustrate some of the salient features as noted in this description and will give you a good idea of what you will be getting should you be the proud new owner of this very fine antique brass dissecting microscope.
This microscope is in very good, fully functional condition. The brass work is in very good condition with some spotty tarnish present. I would estimate original lacquer retention at about 96-97%. The brass work has a nice honey gold patina. The black lacquered foot is also in good condition, but with some surficial tarnish present. NOTE: The only treatment we have given this microscope is to clean it of dust with Windex and then to give it a coat of Renaissance Wax in order to preserve its original lacquer finish. We do not polish antique microscopes as polishing removes the protective lacquer. Ultimately, polished instruments will tarnish in time.
The magnifier lens is in excellent condition with no evidence of fogging, fungus, delamination or other defects. The plano-concave mirror is in excellent condition as well. However, the mirror is not original, but is a more modern replacement. The glass stage plate has a small chip in one corner  but this minor defect is totally outside of the field of view.
Mechanically, the rack and pinion focus system works smoothly and precisely. The articulating limb that holds the magnifier works as it should.
All in all this is nicely preserved example of the W. Watson & Sons, Ltd. Simplex Dissecting Microscope worthy of any antique microscope collection.
ABOUT W. WATSON & SONS, Ltd.:
The optical firm of William Watson was established in 1837, but the first Watson microscope was not made until the year 1876. Watsons workshop was originally located at City Road, Clerkenwell, London from 1837 to 1862. The firm moved to 313 High Holborn, London in 1862 to 1867. After the death of its founder in 1881, the name of the firm was changed to W. Watson & Sons in 1882 and its location remained at 313 High Holborn in London until 1957. In the year 1908, the firm was incorporated under British law and the name of the firm was changed again to W. Watson & Sons, Ltd. The firm moved out of London to 25 West End Lane, Barnet, Herts in 1957. After several changes in ownership, the company stopped producing microscopes in the year 1970.
So ended one of the best British microscope companies. They also manufactured a wide range of photographic lenses and cameras, x-ray machines, motion picture cameras, electrical devices, and other scientific instruments. It is of interest that the very first photograph of Queen Victoria was made with a Watson camera. Over the more than 130 years of its existence, this highly prestigious optical firm produced an excellent line of microscopes, some actually quite stunningly beautiful like the instrument featured here, as well as telescopes, binoculars and other optical instruments. In the year 1884, the Watson firm purchased the business of Edmund Wheeler, a well-known maker of microscopical preparations. Wheelers slides became a large part of their sales over the years under the Watson label. The Watson prepared slides and their beautiful microscopes used to observe them continue to be in high demand by collectors today.
offerDING:
THE MONTANA LOGGER is very pleased to offer this nice antique brass Watson Simplex Dissecting Microscope with a low opening offer and with . Happy offerding!
NOTE: WE WARMLY WELCOME INTERNATIONAL buyers/BUYERS. WE SHIP WORLDWIDE.
PAYMENT: Payment via PayPal is due within 3 days of the close of the sale. Prompt payment is always appreciated. Thank you!
Payment
Back to Top
I accept the following forms of payment:

Your browser does not support JavaScript.
To view this page, enable JavaScript if it is disabled or upgrade your browser.
Click Here. Double your traffic. Get Vendio Gallery - Now FREE!
Your browser does not support JavaScript.
To view this page, enable JavaScript if it is disabled or upgrade your browser.